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Hello, Zorasgal (aka zorAZgal the pOH8t, ZG, ZeeGee) is the pseudonym I created in homage to Zora Neale Hurston. My birth name is Marlana, after film/entertainment legend Marlene Dietrich. Marlana means "Magnificent One." I believe that any given name can be prophetic. Therefore, on a daily basis, I try to be worthy of both names.
Also worth noting here is that my original middle name is Patrice. I was named after a lesser known actress too, Patrice Munsel. Something I just learned recently, Patrice is best remembered as the youngest American singer, a coloratura soprano, to ever star in the Metropolitan Opera. Consequently, she was nicknamed "Princess Pat." Sometimes I call myself Pat too. But when I write, I often call myself Marlana-Patrice.
I am a woman who answers to many names. Then you might ask: Who is she? Really?
By fate if not by design, I am a person of many nuances, someone who lives in both light and shade. (Be forewarned that sometimes tongue-in-cheek is one of my specialties.) On the lighter side, I have always enjoyed dressing up. Like Zora and Marlene, I love accessorizing, especially wearing hats. I inherited that propensity from my mother too. My favorite accessory is a good man. I had to say that!
Photos also reveal that both Zora and Marlene smoked. It looks glamorous in pictures, but the only times I have ever had cigarettes was when I had a bad toothache. One of my mother's old home remedies. My students always doubt me when I say I never smoked marijuana back in the 60's. Do you believe me?
There is also a Biblical connection to my birth name: Mary Magdalene. Yes, I am a Christian. Close family members call me Marti. I guess that name reflects the casual and laid-back tomboy side of me.
How then do I define myself in a meaningful way? "I am an Urban Poet, Writer, Performance Artist, Activist, & Educator (hate labels though), born and bred in Cleveland, who likes to keep smiling." (Terrible sentence structure!)
Then the first question you might ask me: "What is your MISSION as a Poet and Writer?" To quote the late Icon Gwendolyn Brooks whom I met while in college: POETRY IS LIFE DISTILLED. Consequently, I write primarily about weighty subjects related to URBAN LIFE, LOVE, and DEATH.
However, the WISE say it takes less muscles to smile than it does to frown (Actually 13 versus 64). Smiling makes me feel better, especially when I am dealing with stress or tragedy. To quote Brooks again, the aim of a POET is not just to TEACH but OFTEN TO ENTERTAIN, TO ILLUMINE.
With that in mind, when I first joined MySpace in 2008, I deliberately lightened up some of my subject matter. For instance, my earliest blog entries have often been about BASKETBALL, specifically the CLEVELAND CAVALIERS. Please read these as well as my later ones . Then please give me feedback. I NEED AN ONLINE AUDIENCE! Where would I be without one? That's essential for helping any artist hone his craft. Thanks in advance for giving me your intellectual support.
My experiences as a Poet/Writer and a Performance Artist have taken me down rather unique, often circuitous paths. I have been a Poet since I was 9 years old, writing on and off, however, mostly for my own edification. Along the way, I have had some poems published locally, most recently in the 2008 Hessler Street Fair Poetry Anthology. My Hessler poem appears on this page. Read more details in two of my blog entries.
I majored in English as an undergrad and in graduate school, so I have taken several creative writing classes. One of my favorite undergrad professors was the late Poet James Magner. He was the one who arranged to have Gwendolyn Brooks speak on campus. That was a highlight of my undergrad days. I even got Mrs. Brooks to autograph an Essence article about her.
After college, I continued to attend workshops. For example, Poet Russell Adkins taught me during a Summer Creative Writing Workshop at Karamu House. James C. Kilgore was also my poetry instructor when I attended Cuyahoga Community College's Writers' Conferences. For graduate credits, I attended Cleveland State University's Imagination 1997. My instructors included accomplished Poets Toi Derricotte and David Mura. All four of these writers were very helpful and encouraging.
As for my nonfiction experiences, they include my being a contributing writer for the New Day Press' children's book called A Galaxy of Cleveland Black Stars: 1796-1996. I did the section about Jesse Owens, even the Math activity.
My nonfiction background also includes extensive experience writing newspaper articles albeit not for profit. For instance, I have served as the Public Relations Director for my sorority, the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa (Alpha Xi Chapter). (Incidentally, my sorority was founded solely for educators.) My Public Relations duties included writing press releases and articles as well as arranging for photographers to take pictures at our many public events.
In actuality, I often took the photographs myself. My training in photography includes workshops at Karamu House and Cleveland State University. I probably love photography as much as I do writing. Now I consider the former as strictly a leisure activity.
Last but not least, my success as a Performance Artist can be traced back to church programs and high school plays. Even before that, my siblings and I used to put on plays in our backyard. Sometimes impromptu. I once even aspired to be a professional Actress/Singer.
Instead, I became an English Teacher.
As a form of compensation, I eventually became a member of Toastmasters International. In 1994, I won the District 10 Annual Humorous Speech Contest. That meant I was deemed a STAR, The Funniest Speaker in Northeast Ohio.
Fast forward to 2008, performing is considered part of what Poets do on a regular basis. Who knew that I would once again be able to revisit my dream to perform professionally? How karmic.
A few more important things you should know now...People often tell me that I have a beautiful smile and that I am very photogenic--Dimples too (LOL). I hope my smile is contagious on MySpace. I joined this community in order to spread more SMILES...JOY...& especially L-O-V-E in this Universe.
I also want to strengthen my bonds with extended family members and old friends. Networking with Fellow Writers and Making New Friends are exciting primary goals too. No kidding.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS: The Lit (formerly The Poets' and Writers' League of Greater Cleveland), The Langston Hughes Society, Poetry Society of America, The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), The International Reading Association (IRA), The National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc. (Alpha Xi Chapter), Toastmasters International, The Cleveland Film Society, The Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA).
______________________________________________________ MY FAVORITE POEMS___________
I would be remiss if I did not include my favorite Gwendolyn Brooks poem. WE REAL COOL, a classic, must be shared immediately with my students as well as new FRIENDS. Oft-Quoted. Anthologized. Still so P-O-W-E-R-F-U-L. It is a M-A-S-T-E-R-F-U-L epigram of L-I-F-E-D-I-S-T-I-L-L-E-D. Kudos to Langston Hughes too, especially for his DREAMS and HARLEM poems.
Please also listen to the animated WE REAL COOL video and related ones below. That is actually Gwendolyn's voice. If you are incredulous, you can find her original audio on www.poets.org.
Marlana - Possessions part 2
Possessions, Part II
by
Marlana-Patrice
(2008 Hessler Street Fair Poetry Contest, Second Place Winner)
Past 7:00.
Men in sun visors and brown suit coats,
Procrastinate…
In shoes needing new heels…
Sporting, bopping, stopping at the Convenient…
Across Cedar, or Shell on Chester…
The machine will pop jaws shut at 7:30 sharp! Sharper than these men will ever be.
Calling out numbers like speaking in tongues,
"Give me 411 straight…..and boxed…Wheel it…
A kicker too…"
"Regulars okay. The rest must write them down."
Lists jitterbugging lists filled with
Digits, digits, digits…
Shielded by the plastic partition
Fogged with breaths, dirt, and
Dreams,
The cashier blows her stale bubblegum,
Pops it in unison with the machine. Then
Twirls the last slips of redemption onto the turntable.
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We Real Cool
by Gwendolyn Brooks (1960)
The Pool Players.
Seven at the Golden Shovel.
We real cool. We
Left school. We
Lurk late. We
Strike straight. We
Sing sin. We
Thin gin. We
Jazz June. We
Die soon.